Bobbin processing

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method for handling the unwinding end of a wound body of yarn by releasing the end from adjacent winds of the yarn and, with the bobbin rotating, picking up and carrying the released end in a stream of air flowing into a suction nozzle. Lips of the suction nozzle automatically conform to the configuration of the body of yarn. One of the lips may engage the body to aid in releasing the end from the body and providing an air seal, and the other lip may be spaced from the body, thus providing more effective flow of the stream across the body to pick up the unwinding end. If desired, both lips may be spaced from the body of yarn. The unwinding end from the body of yarn, and a nozzle, as described above, if desired, may be provided for withdrawing the unwinding end.

limited States Patent DiMauro 51 Mar. 2%, 1972 [541 BOBBIN PROCESSING [72] Inventor: Frank C. DiMauro, Providence, R1.

[73] Assignee: Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R1.

[22] Filed: Feb. 2, 1970 [21] Appl. No.1 7,760

[52] US. Cl. ..242/18 R, 242/18 EW, 242/356 E [51] Int. Cl ..B65h 54/00 [58] Field of Search ..242/18 R, 35.5, 35,6, 35.6 E, 242/18 EW; 57/36, 157, 164; 28/72.l, 1.2, 19;

Germany ..242/35.6

Primary ExaminerStanley N. Gilreath Attorney-Albert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton 57 ABSTRACT An apparatus and a method for handling the unwinding end of a wound body of yarn by releasing the end from adjacent winds of the yarn and, with the bobbin rotating, picking up and carrying the released end in a stream of air flowing into a suction nozzle. Lips of the suction nozzle automatically conform to the configuration of the body of yarn. One of the lips may engage the body to aid in releasing the end from the body and providing an air seal, and the other lip may be spaced from the body, thus providing more effective flow of the stream across the body to pick up the unwinding end. If desired, both lips may be spaced from the body of yarn. The unwinding end from the body of yarn, and a nozzle, as described above, if desired, may be provided for withdrawing the unwinding end.

43 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PMENTEHmzs I972 sum 1 5 1 I v Q I INVEN I G T h C. DiMAURO FIQZ A RNE MTEDMARZS m2 3,652,025

sum 2 or 5 INVENTOR FRANK C. Di MAURO F l G- 6 ATTORNEYS PATTEMAR 2 8 I972 3, 6 52.02 5 SHEET 3 OF 5 INVENTOR FRANK C. Di MAURO PMENTEnmma 1912 SHEET [1F 5 INVENTOR FRANK C. Di MAURO JMA.

ATTORNEYS PATENT'EDMAm I972 SHEET 5 UF 5 INVENTOR FRANK C. Di MAURO ATTORNEY BOBBIN PROCESSING This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for handling an unwinding end of a body of strand material and, more particularly, to releasing the unwinding end from a wound body of yarn and unwinding the end.

As used herein, the term bobbin" means an article including a body of yarn or other strand material wound so that it may be moved from place to place, or a core on which the yarn is wound. The term filled bobbin means a bobbin whether full or partially full of yarn. The term yarn is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise.

It has become common practice to pass a stream of air across a rotating wound body of yarn for picking up and carrying the unwinding end of the yarn through the mouth of a suction nozzle. However, it is not uncommon for some bobbins received from a spinning frame or a twister to have their unwinding ends fiber-locked, that is, to have fibrils entangled with fibrils of at least one adjacent wind of the yarn, nor for the unwinding end to be buried or partially buried by the adjacent winds of the yarn. Under these, and other circumstances, an air stream may be insufficient for releasing and withdrawing the unwinding end from the body of yarn. In part, this is because the suction nozzle may be operatively fixed relative to the axis of the wound body of yarn so that when a partially filled bobbin is presented to the nozzle, the periphery of the body is substantially farther from the mouth of the nozzle than is the periphery of the body of yarn on a fully filled bobbin, so that the air stream is less effective in releasing and withdrawing the unwinding end from a partially wound bobbin. Additionally, as yam is wound on a bobbin core, the peripheral shape of the bobbin generally varies axially of the bobbin. A nozzle mouth is normally either straight or designed to conform to the contour of a full bobbin and probably will not conform well to the contour of a partially wound bobbin, thus further reducing the effectiveness of the nozzle in releasing and withdrawing the unwinding end.

To overcome the foregoing shortcoming and to provide for more effective handling of the unwinding end of a body of yarn, this invention, in brief, includes a suction nozzle which may be provided with lips for automatically conforming to different configurations of bobbins, and which may be moved optimumly proximate the bobbin with one of the lips preferably engaging the body of yarn. Such an engaging lip is preferably constructed and positioned to sealingly engage the body of yarn, thereby improving the air flow between the body of yarn and the other lip which is spaced from the body of yarn. Better air flow characteristics and a greater force of the air stream for handling the unwinding end of the yarn is thus provided. Additionally, the engaging lip is preferably constructed and positioned for wiping the body of yarn to break fiber-locks and to furrow out the unwinding end should it be buried or partially buried by adjacent winds of the yarn.

The invention further, in brief, provides for the unwinding end of the body of yarn being statically charged in order to release the end from the body of yarn, thereby facilitating withdrawal of the end by the suction nozzle or any other suitable means. The statically charged body of yarn may be located adjacent a member having an opposite polarity and this member may substantially encircle the body to aid in releasing the unwinding end. More efficient handling of the statically charged end is effected if the bobbin is confronted by a conforming nozzle which may, if desired, have a lip for engaging the body of yarn, as previously mentioned.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for handling a strand.

Another object is provision of a new and improved apparatus and method for handling an unwinding end of a wound body of strand material, including a nozzle having a mouth for directing a stream of fluid across the body to carry the end, the mouth automatically, substantially conforming to different configurations of the body. A related object is provision for engagement of the mouth and the body. Another related object is provision for substantially sealing engagement of the mouth and the body. Still another related object is provision on the mouth for releasing the unwinding end from the body. A further related object is provision for charging the unwinding end to release the end from the body.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved apparatus and a method for releasing an unwinding end of a body of yarn by charging the end. A related object is provision for providing an electric static charge to the end for releasing the end while providing a fluid stream across the body, for carrying the end.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a preferred embodiment of apparatus for handling the unwinding end of a wound body of yarn on a bobbin;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, view looking down on the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, to a reduced scale and with parts removed for clearer illustration, and showing additional portions of a bobbin holder;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, broken sectional view taken generally along the lines 3-3 in FIG. 2, to a reduced scale;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of a modification of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the apparatus in another position;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, schematic sectional view taken generally along the line 9--9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the apparatus working on a bobbin having a different configuration, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view of another embodiment of apparatus for handling the unwinding end of a body of yarn wound on a bobbin;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view looking down on the apparatus shown in FIG. I 1, and showing additional portions of a bobbin holder, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, schematic sectional view taken generally along the line 13-13 in FIG. 12, to a reduced scale;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 12, but showing the apparatus in another position;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 1515 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 16-16 in FIG. 14;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are enlarged, fragmentary, schematic views showing modifications of a part of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 11-16, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are fragmentary, sectional views of different positions of a modification of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 11-16;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary, schematic view of another embodiment of the invention, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 2222 in FIG. 21; and

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22, of a modification of the apparatus shown therein.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-10 includes a suitable base It) on which is mounted a bobbin holder 12 including a motor 14 (FIGS. 2 and 8) with its shaft carrying a tapered spindle l6 frictionally received in foot end 18 of a hollow bobbin core 20 for rotating the bobbin 22. The core 20 is held in place by a tapered hub 24 received in the opposite, tip end 26 of the hollow core 20 and rotatably mounted on an arm 28 (FIGS. 2 and 8) of any suitable clamp 30 which is also mounted on the base 10 and has a manually operable handle 32 for clamping and releasing the bobbin in rotating position.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the end of the foot portion 18 of the bobbin core 20 is generally cylindrical and extending axially therefrom is a frusto-conical portion 34 converging to a substantially cylindrical shank 36 which extends to the tip 26 of the core. As illustrated, the bobbin core 20 is intended to receive a random wind of yarn, as is more fully described in a Leesona Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,866. A fully filled bobbin 22 has a configuration generally as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with a body 38 of yarn having a generally cylindrical portion 40 from the cylindrical foot 18 of the core to a frustoconical portion 42 of the body 38 which terminates short of the end of the tip 26 of the core. During winding, the configuration of the body 38 of a partially filled bobbin 22 will vary and at some point during winding will have a configuration generally as shown in FIG. 10.

Yarn end handling apparatus 44 for releasing and withdrawing an unwinding end 46 (FIG. 4) of the body 38 of yarn on the bobbin 22 is also mounted on the base 10 and includes a generally U-shaped bracket 48 suitably fixed to the base, as by bolts 50 (FIGS. 3 and 9), with each leg of the bracket carrying opposed generally L-shaped bearing blocks 52 (FIGS. 1 and 2) preferably of nylon or any other suitable material, and secured thereto as by bolts 54. These blocks 52 slidably receive an outwardly converging mouth 56 of a suction nozzle 56 having vacuum chamber 60 communicating with the mouth 56, and a connector 62 for a vacuum hose 64 opening into the chamber 60. A pair of bushings 66 (FIGS. 3 and 9) fixedly depend from the chamber 60 and are freely telescoped on rods 68 forming a fixed part of the base 10, so that the nozzle 58 is mounted for movement toward and away from the bobbin 22. Such movement may be provided in any suitable manner and is herein provided by a double-acting pneumatic actuating cylinder 70 (FIGS. 3 and 9) pivotally mounted at its closed end to a block 72 suitably fixed to the base 10, and having the free end of its piston rod 74 pivotally connected to a mounting plate 76 suitably fixed to the chamber 60 under the mouth 56.

In order to more efficiently pick up the unwinding end 46 of the yarn body 38, the nozzle mouth 56 is preferably provided with lips 78 which automatically conform to the axial configuration of the bobbin 22 regardless of the amount of yarn, if any, wound onto the bobbin core 20. As may best be seen in FIGS. 2, 8 and 10, an upper lip 80 and a lower lip 82 of the mouth 56 each include a set of three plates 84, each set including a center plate 86 and opposite end plates 88. Upper and lower sets of the plates 84 are sandwiched between pairs of mounting plates 90 (FIG. 4) each pair being fixedly secured to an adjacent one of converging upper and lower walls, respectively, of the mouth 56 in any suitable manner as by rivets 92.

Opposite end plates 88 of each set of plates 84 are pivotally mounted between the associated mounting plates 90 in any suitable manner, as by bolts 94, with provision for slight endwise movement of the end plates. The bolts 94 are preferably radially aligned with the normal adjacent ends of a full body 38 of yarn, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. As noted above, the end plates 88 are mounted for slight longitudinal movement as the plates move between the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the opposite ends of the end plates are provided with an aperture 96 which receives a yieldable insert 98 (such as polyurethane, for example) through the centers of which passes the pivot bolts 94. Each set of plates 84 has its center plate 86 pivoted to its end plates 88, by pivot pins 100 at adjacent corners of the plates closest to the bobbin 22. The pivot pin 100 nearest the foot 18 of the bobbin is generally aligned radially of the bobbin 22 with the juncture of the frusto-conical portion 34 of the bobbin core 20 and the cylindrical shank 36 of the core, and the pivot pin 100 nearest the tip 26 of the core is preferably generally radially aligned with the juncture of the cylindrical portion 40 and frusto-conical portion 42 of a full body 38 of yarn, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. Adjacent ends of the plates are relieved and overlap, as at 102 (FIG. 6), to provide a seal, and to provide stop surfaces 104 for limiting movement of the plates into the position shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 7 shows a modification of the pivot connections wherein an elongated flexible member, preferably a thin steel cable 106, is fixed, as by welding 108, to the edges of the plates opposite the bobbin 22. Flexing of the cable 106 provides for the pivotal movement.

In the illustrated embodiment, the upper and lower sets of plates 84 are constantly and yieldably urged, in any suitable manner, toward the position shown in FIG. 8. Herein, a pneumatic lip operating cylinder 110 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 9) is pivotally connected at its closed end to the mounting plate 76 on the chamber 60 and has the free end of its piston rod 112 pivotally connected to a bracket 114 (FIG. 4) slidable along the lower face of the lowest mounting plate 90. The bracket 114 has fixed thereto an upstanding pin 116 (FIG. 4) which extends through elongated slots 118 in the pairs of mounting plates 90 and is telescoped through holes 120 in the center plates 86 to move the upper and lower sets of plates 84 in unison.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described with reference to FIGS. 1-10 is as follows:

With the apparatus in the inactive position and the motor 14 is stopped, as shown in FIG. 8, the bobbin 22 is stationary. The clamp handle 32 is then operated to release the hub 24 from the tip 26 of the bobbin core 20, whereupon the bobbin 22 may be removed with its unwinding end 46 retained within chamber 60 of the nozzle 58. Subsequently, the end 46 is withdrawn from the chamber 60, for example, as disclosed in a co-pending Leesona Corporation Pat. application, Ser. No. 788,381, filed Jan. 2, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,478, in which the unwinding end extends into a chamber and hose until the bobbin is automatically positioned in another portion of the equipment, whereupon the unwinding end is deposited in the tip end of the hollow core.

Another filled bobbin 22 to be process is now inserted onto the spindle l6 and the clamp 30 is actuated to insert the hub 24 into the tip 26 of the bobbin core 20 whereupon the motor 14 is started to rotate the bobbin 22 (at about 60 r.p.m.) in the unwinding direction of the body 38 of yarn, which is clockwise in FIGS. 1, 3 and 9, and as indicated by the arrow 122 in FIG. 4. The actuating cylinder 70 is then operated to move the nozzle 58 toward the bobbin 22. The lower lip 82 engages and conforms to the axial configuration of the body 38 of yarn on the bobbin 22 and the upper lip 80 follows the lower lip 82 and therefore also conforms to the bobbin configuration but is slightly spaced from the body of yarn to provide a gap for the passage of the stream of air into the nozzle. The conforming lips move into conforming relationship with the bobbin against the urging of the lip operating cylinder 110.

With vacuum applied to the nozzle 58, a stream of air is caused to flow across the surface of the body 38 of yarn to pick up the unwinding end 46 and to carry or draw it between the lips 80 and 82 and through the mouth 56 into the chamber 60. Rotation of the bobbin is then stopped and the actuating cylinder 70 is operated to withdraw the lips from the bobbin, and the described process may be repeated.

To assure more efficient flow of the stream across the body 38 of yarn, and to provide a wiper action for aiding in releasing the unwinding end 46 from the body of yarn, the lower lip 82 may be provided with a flexible sealing member 124 (FIGS. 4 and 5) for engaging the body 38 of yarn and substantially preventing the flow of air passed the lower lip 82. The member 124 has a slot 126 which receives the edge portions of the plates 86 and 88 and resiliently grips the edge portions or may be adhesively secured thereto in any suitable manner. This member 124 has an outer edge 128 beveled generally as shown best in FIG. 4, to engage the body of yarn. Thus, the stream of air flowing across the body 38 of yarn and past the upper lip 80 is increased. The member 124 may be of any suitable material having a Shore D durometer hardness generally in the range of about 20-40 and preferably 30, such as crude rubber, silicone or polyurethane disocyenate known in the trade as Elastacast, Adiprene, or Vibrathane. Many other materials are suitable for the above-described sealing and wiping function. However, the particularly enumerated materials serve an additional function in furrowing out the unwinding end when it is buried or partially buried between one or more adjacent winds of yarn on the bobbin, and also in breaking fiber-locks between fibrils of the unwinding end and fibrils of one or more adjacent winds of the yarn, which is particularly significant with high twist yarns such as, a single strand of warp cotton weighing about 25 pounds per 1,000 feet with a twist multiplier of four (spun 21.5/1 warp cotton T. M. 4), for example.

In general, the material of the member 124 should have rubberlike properties enabling it to assume, under a pressure of about a half pound per inch length of the engaging lip, the contour of the outer layer of yarn to the extent that each exposed strand of yarn is contacted. Further, the material should have sufficient bounce back or rebound elasticity to enable it to adjust to a constantly changing circumferential contour during each complete revolution of the bobbin (at approximately 60 rpm), and to furrow out a partially buried end. When in moving engagement with the yarn, the material should have a coefficient of friction which will cause the unwinding end to be effectively held by the lip while the remaining winds of yarn slide across the lip. The engaging lip should also substantially isolate a loose yarn or yarn laying within a fiber-locked increment of yarn, that is, yarn which has spun some or all of its peripheral fibrils into adjacent fibrils of another incriment of yarn to form a joint which may have a strength up to percent of the normal single yarn breaking strength.

Another embodiment of apparatus for releasing and withdrawing the unwinding end is shown in FIGS. 11-18, wherein the bobbin 22 is mounted and rotated as previously described by the bobbin mount 12. In this embodiment, a base 134 (FIG. 12, 13, 14 and 16) includes a bottom plate 136 which carries the bobbin mount 12, and an upstanding plate 138. Extending outwardly from the upright plate 138 are a pair of L-shaped tracks 140. The tracks 140 receive heads of trolley pins 142, the shanks 144 of which depend from the tracks 140 and are fixedly secured to a suction nozzle 146 and, more particularly, to a mounting block 148 of a material such as nylon which may be reinforced (not shown) for greater rigidity. The block 148 has upper and lower generally horizontal slots 150 which receive and frictionally grip legs 152 of a series of generally U-shaped members 154, the legs 152 of the members being in the form of bars having their free ends, which provide upper and lower conforming lips 156 and 158, respectively, adjacent the bobbin 22. At either end of the series of U-shaped members 154 are closure end plates 160 and 162 which conform generally to the outer configuration of the U-shaped members 154 and are fixed to the mounting block 1148, thereby forming a chamber 164 (FIGS. 13 and 16) between the free ends of the legs 154 and the mounting block 148. The end plates 160 and 162 have concave free ends which conform to and engage the cylindrical foot 18 and tip 26, respectively, of the bobbin core when the nozzle 146 is moved to its active position (FIGS. 11-13). The U-shaped members 154 and the end plates 160 and 162 may be of mating tongue and groove construction (not shown) to further seal the assembly and provide a more rigid unit. A connection 166 for a vacuum hose 168 is provided at one end of the assembly and herein is formed integrally with the end plate 162.

Movement of the nozzle 146 toward and away from the bobbin 22 is provided by a pneumatic actuating cylinder 170 fixedly mounted on an abutment bar block 172 secured to the upright plate 138 and having the free end of its piston'rod 174 pivotally connected to a bracket 176 (FIG. 13) fixed to and depending from the mounting block 148.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the free ends of the lower legs 152 which form the lower lip 158 extend slightly further outwardly toward the bobbin 22 than do the free ends of the upper legs 152 which form the upper lip 156, so that the lower lip 158 engages the body 38 of yarn on the bobbin 22 when the end plates and 162 engage the core 20. Thus, as may best be seen in H6. 13, the upper lip 156 is slightly spaced from the bobbin 22'to provide a gap for the flow of a stream of air along the surface of the bobbin around the upper lip 156 and into the nozzle chamber 164.

The lower lip 158 may be provided with a continuous member 178 (FIG. 17) similar to and of any material as previously described to provide the sealing, wiping, and/or furrowing functions, as previously described. Alternatively, the upper and lower legs 152 may be provided with a continuous coating 180 (FIG. 18) such as silicone to provide a more effective seal between the legs and a conforming lip 181, generally as previously described.

When the actuating cylinder 170 is operated to withdraw the legs 152, bight portions 182 (FIG. 16) of the U-shaped members 154 engage the abutment block 172 and the lips 156 and-158 are positioned generally in a straight line, as shown in FIG. 14, ready to again be moved into lip conforming relationship with another bobbin 22.

Hereinafter, reference numerals primed refer to the same or similar parts and functions as prior unprimed reference numerals.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show a modification of the apparatus described immediately above with reference to FIGS. 1ll8. In the apparatus shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a mounting member 184 is secured to trolley pins 142' received on tracks 140', as previously described. Herein, the mounting member 184 is generally in the form of a box having upper and lower pairs of longitudinally extending slots 186 each pair receiving a series of legs or bars 188 friction-ally held by a suitable resilient member 190 such as a partially collapsed resilient hose or tube. End plates 192, as previously described, one having a vacuum hose connector (not shown), are fixed to opposite ends of the box to engage the adjacent tip and foot of the bobbin as the bars are moved toward the bobbin, as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 1-18.

Movement of the bars 188 toward and away from the bobbin 22 is provided by a pneumatic actuating cylinder 194 secured to the previously described upright wall 138 which serves as an abutment for the bars. The free end of the cylinders piston rod 196 is pivotally connected to a bracket 198 fixed to and extending upwardly from the top of the box 184. After upper and lower lips 200 and 202, respectively, of the bars 188 have been moved into engagement with the body 38 of yarn and conform to the axial configuration of the body of yarn, a pair of pneumatic tilting cylinders 204 (only one shown) are actuated to pivot the box 184 from the position shown in FIG. 19 to the position shown in FIG. 20, to provide a gap between the upper lip 200 and the body 38 of yarn, with the lower lip 202 continuing to engage the body of yarn. The tilting cylinders 204 have their closed ends pivoted, as by pins 206, to adjacent ones of the trolley shanks 144', with the free ends of their piston rods 208 pivoted to a tab 210 fixed to and extending upwardly from the box 1. As the bars 188 are withdrawn from the bobbin 22, the tilting cylinder 204 returns the bars to the generally horizontal position and the actuating cylinder 194 withdraws the assembly from the bobbin into engagement with an abutment 138' to again align the ends of the pins, in position to engage another bobbin.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 wherein the bobbin 22 is received in a bobbin mount 12, as previously described. Any suitable form of vacuum nozzle may be provided, as desired, and as illustrated the nozzle 146 shown in FIGS. 11-18 is provided. As herein illustrated, the body 38 of yarn is provided with a static electric charge for releasing the unwinding end. As shown, the bobbin (when full having an outside diameter of about 2 inches) is in the bobbin mount 12 and is received within a fixed, rigid electric conducting tube member 212 (having an inside diameter of about 2%inches) and the body 38 of yarn on the bobbin 22, or the I described, and the free end of its piston rod 220 pivoted to a bracket 176, as previously described. When the nozzle is moved into its active position with the lips 156 and 158' engaging the bobbin 22, the cylinders 218 and 170' have their piston rods extended, and after engaging the bobbin, the cylinder 218 is operated to withdraw its piston rod 220 and also the lips 156 and 158, which are even with each other, to provide gaps between both lips and the bobbin. This feature is particularly useful if the bobbin is to be rotated in the winding direction to remove reverse wraps of the unwinding end before rotating the bobbin in the usual unwinding direction to unwind a substantial length of the unwinding end.

While this invention has been described with reference to various embodiments in a particular environment, various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is, therefore, not to be limited to such embodiments or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for handling strand ends of bodies of strand material in which the configurations of the bodies may vary from one body to another, the apparatus comprising handling means including a mouth for successively being associated with and extending along each of the bodies and directing a stream of fluid across the associated one of the bodies to carry the end, and said mouth including means for substantially conforming to the various configurations of portions of said bodies along which the mouth extends.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means comprises a lip of the mouth.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means comprises a first lip of the mouth for so conforming to the configuration of the associated one of said bodies, and said mouth includes a second lip spaced from the first lip.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means comprises spaced apart lips of said mouth for conforming to the configuration of said body, and said handling means including means mounting said lips for providing a gap between said lips and said body when said end is carried by said stream.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the handling means includes means mounting the conforming means for engagement with the associated one of said bodies.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means includes means for releasing the end from the associated one of said bodies.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means comprises a first lip of the mouth for conforming to the configuration of the associated one of the bodies, and said mouth includes a second lip spaced from the first lip, said handling means includes means mounting said first lip for engagement with said associated body and said second lip for providing a gap between the second lip and said associated body.

8. Apparatus as set forth i claim 7 in which the first lip is effective for substantially sealingly engaging said associated one of said bodies and releasing the end from the associated body when the end is interlocked with said associated body.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which the handling means includes means for releasably mounting the associated one of the bodies proximate the lips and for rotating the associated body relative to the mouth, and the nozzle means is a vacuum nozzle and the stream carries the end into the mouth.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means comprises a plurality of members, and the nozzle means includes means mounting said members for movement relative to each other to conform to the configuration of the associated one of said bodies.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 i which the mounting means mounts at least a portion of said members for engagement with said associated one of said bodies.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which at least said portion of said members include means for releasing said end from the associated one of said bodies upon said engagement with said associated body.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which at least said portion of said members includes means for substantially sealingly engaging the associated one of said bodies.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which at least said portion of said members include means for releasing said end from the associated one of said bodies upon said engagement with said associated body, and for substantially sealingly engaging said associated body.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in which the releasing means is a smooth and flexible lip of said mouth, and said lip has a Shore D durometer hardness generally in the range of 20-40.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which said mounting means mounts said members in groups, each of said groups providing lips of said mouth.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which said members are bars, and said mounting means mounts the bars within each group for sliding movement relative to each other to adjust at least one of said lips to the configuration of the associated one of said bodies.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which said members are plates, said mounting means mounts the plates within each group for pivotal movement relative to each other to adjust at least one of said lips to the configuration of the associated one of said bodies.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which the mounting means mounts said groups to provide a gap between the lips and the associated one of said bodies.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which the mounting means mounts said groups for engagement of a first of said lips with said associated body and a second of said lips to provide a gap between the second lip and said associated body when said end is carried by said stream.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which said first lip provides means for releasing said end from said associated body upon said engagement with said associated body and for substantially sealingly engaging said associated body.

22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which said first lip is smooth and flexible and has a Shore D durometer hardness in the range of 20-40.

23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 in which said members are bars, and said mounting means mounts the bars within each group for sliding movement relative to each other adjust at least a first of said lips to the configuration of the associated one of said bodies.

24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which the first lip is a continuous strip mounted on free ends of the bars of the associated group.

25. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which at least the group of bars having said first lip has a substantially continuous coating extending from bar to bar to seal the group and said coating provides said first lip.

26. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which each bar of each group is fixed to a bar of the other group.

27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which the bars of each group are independent of the bars of the other group.

28. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which said mounting means includes means for releasably clamping said bars in adjusted position.

29. Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 in which said members are plates, said mounting means mounts the plates within each group for pivotal movement relative to each other to adjust at least one of said lips to the configuration of said associated body.

30. Apparatus as set forth in claim 29 in which said mounting means includes means yieldably urging said plates to a particular position and mounting at least one of said lips for conforming engagement with said associated body.

31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 30 in which said first lip is a continuous strip mounted on edges of the plates of the associated group.

32. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the handling means includes means for releasing the end from the associated one of said bodies.

33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 in which the releasing means includes at least a portion of the conforming means.

34. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 in which the releasing means is a lip of said mouth.

35. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 in which the releasing means includes a member, means for polarizing the end, and means for polarizing said member to attract the end toward the member.

36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 35 in which said member has an internal clearance, and including means for mounting associated one of said bodies within said clearance.

37. Apparatus as set forth in claim 36 in which the mounting means mounts said associated body for rotation relative to said member.

38. Apparatus as set forth in claim 37 in which said mouth opens through said member, and said conforming means includes spaced apart lips of said mouth for conforming to the configuration of the associated body.

39. Apparatus as set forth in claim 38 in which the noule means includes means mounting a first of said lips for substantial sealingly engaging said associated body and a second of said lips for providing a gap between the second lip and said associated body for passage of said stream between said associated body and said second lip.

40. Apparatus as set forth in clam 39 in which said releasing means includes the first lip.

41. Apparatus for handling a strand end of a body of strand material, comprising means for polarizing the end to cause the end to move away from the body, a hollow member, means for positioning said body within the hollow of said member, and means for polarizing said member oppositely of said end to attract the end toward the member.

42. Apparatus as set forth in claim 41 in which the mounting means positions said body spaced from said member.

43. Apparatus as set forth in claim 42 in which the mounting means mounts said body for rotation relative to said member. 

1. Apparatus for handling strand ends of bodies of strand material in which the configurations of the bodies may vary from one body to another, the apparatus comprising handling means including a mouth for successively being associated with and extending along each of the bodies and directing a stream of fluid across the associated one of the bodies to carry the end, and said mouth including means for substantially conforming to the various configurations of portions of said bodies along which the mouth extends.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means comprises a lip of the mouth.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means comprises a first lip of the mouth for so conforming to the configuration of the associated one of said bodies, and said mouth includes a second lip spaced from the first lip.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means comprises spaced apart lips of said mouth for conforming to the configuration of said body, and said handling means including means mounting said lips for providing a gap between said lips and said body when said end is carried by said stream.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the handling means includes means mounting the conforming means for engagement with the associated one of said bodies.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means includes means for releasing the end from the associated one of said bodies.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means comprises a first lip of the mouth for conforming to the configuration of the associated one of the bodies, and said mouth includes a second lip spaced from the first lip, said handling means includes means mounting said first lip for engagement with said associated body and said second lip for providing a gap between the second lip and said associated body.
 8. Apparatus as set forth i claim 7 in which the first lip is effective for substantially sealingly engaging said associated one of said bodies and releasing the end from the associated body when the end is interlocked with said associated body.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which the handling means includes means for releasably mounting the associated one of the bodies proximate the lips and for rotating the associated body relative to the mouth, and the nozzle means is a vacuum nozzle and the stream carries the end into the mouth.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the conforming means comprises a plurality of members, and the nozzle means includes means mounting said members for movement relative to each other to conform to the configuration of the associated one of said bodies.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which the mounting means mounts at least a portion of said members for engagement with said associated one of said bodies.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which at least said portion of said members include means for releasing said end from the associated one of said bodies upon said engagement with said associated body.
 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which at least said portion of said members includes means for substantially sealingly engaging the associated one of said bodies.
 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which at least said portion of said members include means for releasing said end from the associated one of said bodies upon said engagement with said associated body, and for substantially sealingly engaging said assOciated body.
 15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in which the releasing means is a smooth and flexible lip of said mouth, and said lip has a Shore D durometer hardness generally in the range of 20-40.
 16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which said mounting means mounts said members in groups, each of said groups providing lips of said mouth.
 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which said members are bars, and said mounting means mounts the bars within each group for sliding movement relative to each other to adjust at least one of said lips to the configuration of the associated one of said bodies.
 18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which said members are plates, said mounting means mounts the plates within each group for pivotal movement relative to each other to adjust at least one of said lips to the configuration of the associated one of said bodies.
 19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which the mounting means mounts said groups to provide a gap between the lips and the associated one of said bodies.
 20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 in which the mounting means mounts said groups for engagement of a first of said lips with said associated body and a second of said lips to provide a gap between the second lip and said associated body when said end is carried by said stream.
 21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which said first lip provides means for releasing said end from said associated body upon said engagement with said associated body and for substantially sealingly engaging said associated body.
 22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which said first lip is smooth and flexible and has a Shore D durometer hardness in the range of 20-40.
 23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 in which said members are bars, and said mounting means mounts the bars within each group for sliding movement relative to each other to adjust at least a first of said lips to the configuration of the associated one of said bodies.
 24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which the first lip is a continuous strip mounted on free ends of the bars of the associated group.
 25. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which at least the group of bars having said first lip has a substantially continuous coating extending from bar to bar to seal the group and said coating provides said first lip.
 26. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which each bar of each group is fixed to a bar of the other group.
 27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which the bars of each group are independent of the bars of the other group.
 28. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 in which said mounting means includes means for releasably clamping said bars in adjusted position.
 29. Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 in which said members are plates, said mounting means mounts the plates within each group for pivotal movement relative to each other to adjust at least one of said lips to the configuration of said associated body.
 30. Apparatus as set forth in claim 29 in which said mounting means includes means yieldably urging said plates to a particular position and mounting at least one of said lips for conforming engagement with said associated body.
 31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 30 in which said first lip is a continuous strip mounted on edges of the plates of the associated group.
 32. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the handling means includes means for releasing the end from the associated one of said bodies.
 33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 in which the releasing means includes at least a portion of the conforming means.
 34. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 in which the releasing means is a lip of said mouth.
 35. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32 in which the releasing means includes a member, means for polarizing the end, and means for polarizing said member to attract the end toward the member.
 36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 35 in which said membeR has an internal clearance, and including means for mounting associated one of said bodies within said clearance.
 37. Apparatus as set forth in claim 36 in which the mounting means mounts said associated body for rotation relative to said member.
 38. Apparatus as set forth in claim 37 in which said mouth opens through said member, and said conforming means includes spaced apart lips of said mouth for conforming to the configuration of the associated body.
 39. Apparatus as set forth in claim 38 in which the nozzle means includes means mounting a first of said lips for substantial sealingly engaging said associated body and a second of said lips for providing a gap between the second lip and said associated body for passage of said stream between said associated body and said second lip.
 40. Apparatus as set forth in clam 39 in which said releasing means includes the first lip.
 41. Apparatus for handling a strand end of a body of strand material, comprising means for polarizing the end to cause the end to move away from the body, a hollow member, means for positioning said body within the hollow of said member, and means for polarizing said member oppositely of said end to attract the end toward the member.
 42. Apparatus as set forth in claim 41 in which the mounting means positions said body spaced from said member.
 43. Apparatus as set forth in claim 42 in which the mounting means mounts said body for rotation relative to said member. 